America’s Finest City is not just a hot spot for surfers and scantily-clad sunbathers; it also hosts some of the nation’s most popular events that bring in people from all over the world. San Diegans love to celebrate music, movies, food, and even comic books, among other things. The top three annual events may be different in each person’s eyes depending on what interests them, but there are several that stand out as the most popular every single year. For the top three, we chose events where both the locals and visitors have a great time. From dressing up in star wars costumes at the San Diego Comic Con to wagering the last of your savings and wearing ridiculous hats at the Del Mar Races, San Diego knows how to put on a great show.

Top 3 Annual Events in San Diego

• San Diego Comic-Con International: Comic professionals and fans have been filling the San Diego Convention Center to its max every year since its beginning in 1970. The event had over 130,000 in attendance in 2010 and all of downtown was packed with additional visitors just coming to look on at the spectacle. Everyone gets in their best comic outfit and heads down to the world’s fourth largest comic convention where they hope to rub shoulders with famous artists, actors and characters throughout the day. Visitors can catch a glimpse of upcoming feature films, get autographs from comic professionals and actors, stop by workshops and seminars, and all meet up for one crazy night at the Masquerade. The event usually takes place every July but the past few years have sold out far in advance. Plan on buying tickets a year in advance and if you don’t get them in time you can still head downtown for some great sightseeing with Klingons roaming the streets.
• Del Mar Racing Season: The famous summer race track down in Del Mar draws horse racing fans from all around the world. The summer series runs for 37 days starting in mid July and consistently sees crowds of 40,000 or more. “Where the turf meets the surf” is the slogan for a race track that was started by Bing Crosby in 1937 and has a history of hosting famous horses from Seabiscuit in 1938 to Zenyatta in 2010. Opening Day is a local favorite where everyone gets dolled up and sports their best hats, bringing back the style from the race tracks’ heyday. Locals, visitors, and celebrities all show up to watch the world’s finest thoroughbreds race for top dollar stakes. Unlike Comic Con, you don’t need to buy tickets in advance and you can even catch popular concerts for free if you attend the 4 O’clock Fridays shows down at Del Mar.
• Farmers Insurance Open: What most people still think of as the great Buick Open has a new sponsor but the same great golf that has brought people to San Diego for years. The “West Coast Swing” of the PGA Tour takes place on the Torrey Pines Golf Course in the beautiful beach town of La Jolla. Bubba Watson won in early 2011 and took home over one million dollars but the entire last decade was ruled by Tiger Woods himself, winning a total of six tournaments and setting several course records. Although the tournament takes place every January, San Diego is well known for beautiful weather year round which makes for a perfect weekend of golf.

Annual Events – Honorable Mentions

• Street Scene: One of the largest music festival in the United States and historically located downtown San Diego had a rough two years and it is still undecided if it will be back. If it is, Street Scene would easily make its way up to our top three events in San Diego. The festival takes place downtown with several stages over a three-day period and hosts some of the most popular bands alongside incredible underground musicians. Stay tuned this summer to see if it makes its comeback because it is truly a San Diego event everyone must experience.
• San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon: If running, or walking for a very long time, is your thing, don’t miss the unique marathon winding through downtown with live music set up at every mile marker during the race. It is like street scene stretched out over 26.2 miles. The Rock n’ Roll marathon comes every summer and is a great place for starters to test out their legs while rocking out to music.
• San Diego Wine and Food Festival: All of your favorite restaurants, chefs, and wineries join up for a delicious event showcasing the best of San Diego and California. With VIP tastings, exclusive after parties, and a chef competition, you will be in for a fun filled weekend downtown. The event is held every November and brings people in from all over the world to taste what San Diego has to offer.